Walkers and joggers at Magens Bay will no longer have to steer clear of oncoming cars come the end of August. Aubrey Nelthropp, chairman of the Magens Bay Authority, informed senators of the new road at Magens Bay during a hearing Friday before the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Budget.
The rerouted road starts just over the bridge and runs behind sheds three and four, and once completed will replace the old road as the thoroughfare for vehicular traffic. The old road will remain open for bicycles and pedestrians.
Construction of a handicap ramp to bathhouse No. 2 was recently completed and the Authority will continue to work on the revitalization of the arboretum and coconut grove.
The Magens Bay Authority, a semi-autonomous and self-sustaining agency, is made up of seven board members, including the governor, and serves without compensation but does receive a $75 per day per diem allowance for each day spent performing duties related to the authority. The authority currently oversees the Magens Bay property and the Smith Bay Park.
The 27th Legislature appropriated $1.5 million to finance the planning, development and management of the Smith Bay Park. Unfortunately, the authority has only received $375,000 to date and requested the balance of those funds during Friday’s hearing.
The Smith Bay Park is operating at a deficit and is in need of a bathhouse, a gatehouse, and a new road in order for the park to become financially solvent, Nelthropp said. The Authority has been approached by various tour operators who want to bring large groups from cruise ships to the Smith Bay Park as part of the pre-paid tours sold on board. The bathhouse, gatehouse, and road improvements are necessary to accommodate larger numbers of people and help the authority manage the park effectively.
Senators commended Nelthropp and the other board members for their efficiency, financial solvency, and their continued efforts to protect two of the Virgin Islands’ most precious assets, Magens Bay Beach and Smith Bay Park.
Present at Friday’s hearing were Sens. Craig W. Barshinger, Carlton “Ital” Dowe, Hill, Wayne A.G. James and Terrence “Positive” Nelson.
